Kelly Clarkson is getting married in just two months. She’s marrying divorcee Brandon Blackstock, whom she’s known for years professionally prior to their romantic relationship. We haven’t heard rumors about her breaking up his marriage or anything. She did admit in an interview earlier this year that she first met Brandon when he was married and yet she knew that she would end up with him. Supposedly they reconnected when he was already divorced for a year and the rest is history. Well Kelly is getting ready to tie the knot for the first time, and she told Ryan Seacrest that it feels right because she also gets along with Brandon’s kids:

It’s not a try hard situation. It’s easy… It’s work, obviously after a year and a half… reality starts to set in. It’s fun work, it’s not like he wants to change me and I want to change him. We’re very similar.

Even like his kids, are you kidding me? I have a 12-year-old and a 6-year-old now … after being single for six years! We all live together and everything … it’s so different, but it’s perfect. They’re awesome and I actually really dig the mom thing … I am quick to go, ‘I told you not to touch that!’… I am totally my mom. My mom was a hard mom.

On the surface it’s not offensive or anything, although it sounds like Brandon’s ex wife is out of the picture. Kelly makes it sound like she’s raising those kids with Brandon, right? An article earlier this year, in US Weekly, stated that their mother is still very much involved in their lives. They quoted a source who said that Kelly is “careful not to step on their mother’s toes.” Not here she’s not, although she was just kind of rambling in that radio interview. I’m inclined to give her a break since I like her and enjoy her music. She’s not tweeting photos of the kids or calling herself a “bonus mom,” but she should step off a little. They already have a mom.

Also, I got a bad impression of Brandon during the Grammy awards. He kind of shook his head and looked annoyed when Kelly called him sexy in her acceptance speech. I know that’s just one brief moment in time but I got the douche vibe from him. At least one article I found claims that he has a wandering eye, but it’s pretty much conjecture. I shouldn’t be so negative, I wish her happiness and fidelity, damnit, even if her best music comes from when she’s been wronged.

Posed photos from instagram. Other photos are of Kelly and Brandon on the set of one of her music videos on 4-9-13. Credit: FameFlynet

I don’t know anything about this guy, but I’m getting a bad vibe from him too.I’ve always been taught that it is the small things that really show a person’s true personality and feelings, not big gestures like a piece of expensive jewelry on Valentine’s Day. Although that is a thoughtful gesture, it means nothing if he is ignoring you, hitting you, or cheating on you the rest of the year.

I saw that video of her acceptance speech and her fiance didn’t even seem happy for her! Most dudes in love would be ecstatic if their lover won a huge award and called them sexy on stage. Maybe we are reading too much into one fleeting second of video, but add that to the other rumors about him and it’s understandable to come away with a bad impression of him.

If it is true that he has a wandering eye, then he is bad news for Kelly. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions about why he ended up divorced as many good and well-intentioned people do, but if some of you guys also get the douche vibe and believe the cheating rumors, then there was probably a good reason why his first marriage ended.

Kelly seems really enthusiastic and in love. It would suck to see this guy mistreat her.

the hell is all over her face in those last pictures? I was rubbing my phone screen because I thought there were spots of dirt on it! I guess this is what I get for reading celebitchy half-awake through squinty eyes at this time…

I’m not sure exactly what the dots were for but the photos are from her video shoot for her song “People Like Us,” so the dots were likely for some video effect. I think the video had a kind of “Pleasantville”-like theme of going from gray to color so maybe the dots were to facilitate that.

My guy has a goatee, I don’t know if that counts, but he’s had beards as well and they’re just the most flattering thing for his face. He’s gone ‘nude’ before but I hate it, the facial hair defines his jawline more and just looks much better.

I think what she said about her future stepkids is fine. She’s not stepping on anyone’s toes by saying she is the way she is *in her own home*. It’s her house, and they will be her stepkids, and they will need to respect her. It sounds like they have a good relationship already, and I’m happy for her.

I was gonna say the same thing. I don’t see anything inappropriate about enforcing the rules in her own home. This site I feel gives a lot of crap to step-parents bc of Rimes. I love both my stepdad and stepmom. They are not all crazy!

She irritates me now that she’s engaged. I get so tired of women who are all “I’m independent and I don’t need a man!” and then they turn around and get engaged and talk nonstop about marriage and kids. Kelly, if you need to change yourself to get a man (who’s divorced and has children, which, really, could you aim a little higher?), he’s not the right man for you. Especially as he looks like he has PTSD in every picture he takes with you. I guess it helps that he’s your manager’s son so he can’t get away from your stage 5 clinger self.

The silver lining is when their relationship goes bad (and it will) and/or they divorce, her albums are going to be AMAZING.

She’s madly in love and probably the first great relationship she’s really had. Let her have her beginning love time and try not to rain on her parade. It’s a great time in her life. She’s still a strong, working woman, performing and putting out music.

Although, if the mom has half custody, I find her remarks rude about being a mom now. There are better ways to say things that are more tactful, but I don’t know the backdrop. She says the kids live with them. If that’s the case, then she is doing the mothering, I guess, but her comments insinuate there is no real mom in the picture the way she is talking. I just find it hard to believe he got full custody. I hate insensitvity with women. I guess I am different and it always rubs me the wrong way. Say it to your friends, not in interviews.

Are you still in your early or mid 20s? Because once you hit your 30s, the pool of non-divorced, childless men is pretty low. If you want to “avoid” that, you’re going to be dating much younger men, or the men who haven’t been married for a reason.

I’m independent and I don’t “need” a man and I am all about my marriage and my kids. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it’s insulting to feminists and women to imply that only single women are independent and self-reliant and one must necessarily give that up to fall in love, marry and become a mother.

THIS! Thank you, I was tired of reading comments that implied if Kelly was in love or into family life she “changed” who she was and is no longer independent. It’s also rude to suggest single women should never marry divorced guys with kids. I was a step mom and loved it.

I think it’s really insulting to tell someone they could “aim higher” than a divorced father. It’s one thing to say it’s a lot of work and some women aren’t cut out for it. But to phrase it like that is disgusting. I love my boyfriend and his daughter. And while it’s not perfect, he and his ex wife co-parent extremely well. I feel so lucky to be with a family like this. They are all GREAT people and you couldn’t aim higher if you tried.

On topic – I think Kelly is just someone who, in a relationship, gives it her all. When she’s single, she gives herself her all and when she’s committed, she gives the couple her all. But she also does like like a girl who balances her life with friends and music. I hope. I think she’s great and the type of person I like to see happy and have it all.

I love my divorced fiance AND his 5 kids and I have long been childless. I didn’t “aim” for anything, I fell in love. And I am a fiercely independent strong woman with a career and I didn’t change when I fell in love with Jay.

Oh, and he has a beard. Damn, I really aimed for the gutter, didn’t I?

If you’re not trying to step on their mom’s toes, then you don’t say things about how when he was married to her, you knew you’d end up with him and you certainly don’t say things like how you have a 12 year old and 6 year old now as though you’ve adopted them because they don’t have their own mother. Bad wording, bad choices, and plain insensitive. I don’t get women like Kelly and Leann. I know plenty of stepparents, and they love their stepkids, but don’t feel the need to act as though they are the parents and the mothers/fathers are not important.

Just because we don’t see any mention of their mom in this interview does not mean she is being insensitive or marginalizing mom’s role. She likely did mention her, it just wasn’t printed here. She isn’t talking about their mom, she is talking about how her life and priorities have changed. Like it or not, as a Stepmom, she has a responsibility to those kids and Kelly is clearly stepping up and embracing them. This means they have one more loving adult in their lives. What’s wrong with that?

Stef, I know many stepparents and have respect for them. I do not like the way Kelly is handling the situation, though she is nowhere near the insane stalker level Leann lives at. Kids should be loved by their stepparents, but Kelly is coming off as though their mom abandoned them and she has had to step in and take her place. In People, she said, “We have kids starting school in September.” The way to say it is simply, “My stepkids have….” That is sensitive. I always use my BIL, who is not only a great stepdad, but has to deal with being a different race than my nephews and gets loads of stupid remarks aimed his way when with them. “This is my stepson, he’s a great skateboarder.” “Come over here and meet my stepsons, they’re great.” Love and respecting their dads at the same time (they have different dads). Showing respect for both parents and knowing your place in your stepchildren’s lives is really good for them.

I hope she’ll stop the public comments about the kids, too. Reba seemed to navigate those waters relatively well after some initial tabloid pot stirring related to Narvel’s kids and marriage breakup. Marrying her steel guitarist-turned-manager has lasted nearly 25 years (which surprises me), so maybe Kelly hopes for the same.

My brother calls his stepsons his sons in many places, at home, maybe out when all the kids are together, but he totally respected their father and never carried on in social media, etc., and probably was a good go-between between his wife and her ex when it go testy. The boys called him his name for several years and then wanted to call him dad. Again, he always deferred to the dad, who lived a couple of hours away, though.

My brother-in-law has been dad to his stepson since very early on, as he married my sister when he was two. He loves him just like a son as he was the primary care-giver with my sister and the father saw him every other weekend for 48 hours and never attended one game of his. He lived an hour away. He calls both dads dad, but my BIL never sat on social media saying things either. He and my sister’s ex get along great and show a lot of respect to one another. I guess men aren’t like some women, they don’t try to rub it in each other’s face like a LeAnn does ad nauseum.

Nicely said. Kids do not want to hear their parents marginalized, but they do want to feel loved by stepparents. It’s a rough balance, but I know a lot of stepparents who do great. Kelly is being really insensitive, but Leann is on her own plane of insane lack of boundaries.

LOL. Well said, but I think Kelly seems too head over heels in love to take off the rose colored glasses. I just have a feeling that this is going to eventually end badly for Kelly and she’s going to be crushed. But, as many people have commented, the songs will be great, lol.

I love Kelly and I love her music. She’s very humble and has never acted superior to anyone. However, I really truly think that marrying this guy is a major mistake. He does not look right for her. She seems so much happier than he is. It could be because he’s already experienced marriage, children, and being a father. But I think a year later, getting married after a divorce is too fast. She really needs to get to know him. I agree with the douchebag vibe.

It seems like she has worked things out with his Ex/the children’s mom. I don’t see it anywhere where Kelly is stepping on the children’s mom. If it works for them on having two moms, why make it into a negative thing. As a child I had my bio father and a step-father that I also called DAD; as a child I knew the difference but love them equally as they loves me. it was never a drama of I’m the birth Dad vs step-dad. So why do so many wonen let this prevent from moving on and focus on what’s best for the children? As adults, when you pull the status card: I am their only mom or ‘your only their step mom’— it really doen’t help the children or anyone re moving on towards building good relationships or a family.

It’s not being a mom to the kids as a stepmom that bothers many, like me. My brother and stepbrother are dads, not just stepdads, as far as what the kids call them and all get along. But it did hurt both real dads to hear their kids call them that. They just handled it nicely, but it hurts. It’s the way LeAnn and others, I guess, carry on in interviews about their children, blah, blah. There is a sensitivity chip missing in some or maybe they like to make digs at the wife. But until you are a mother and lost custody of your children half the month from when they were little and then have to see a woman carry on in interviews or social media, you won’t understand. I’m not saying Kelly is like that, but you have to be careful in interviews not to hurt someone’s feelings and how you phrase things.

I agree this is all about being sensitive to the kids and their mom. There is a way to do these blended family-celebrity interviews and this is not it. Come on Kelly, you are not a kid anymore, this is an adult situation that requires some tact. Consult with your pr person first. I don’t think Kelly will ever sink to the “Leann level” of nastiness but she could be more aware. I hope this works out for them, but, it seems too fast and he might not be the right guy for her.

If you had said I had a dad and a stepdad, I would have known exactly what you meant. The use of the word bio- may fit if the parent is completely out of the picture, but to insist on its use when that’s not the case is insulting to people. It seems like stepparents are insisting that the word bio- be used to equalize because they feel they don’t get their due. It’s insecurity, IMO.

You are a stepmom, not a mom. I’m both a mom (more than a biomom-hate that term), and I’m also a stepmom. These women who are in the spotlight and publicly talk like the real mom is not important make me sick. Have some tact.

I don’t understand why everyone gets their panties in such a knot when a stepmom/bonus mom/whatever you want to call it, has rules in her home that will be enforced and also expects respect from the children. They are living in my home half the time, I will not let them run around like wild animals and do whatever they please. I may not be their blood, but I sure as hell will do my best to guide them in life.

+1000 on the rules, I totally agree, that’s appropriate and children should respect the rules at anyone’s home.

I think it’s the claiming the kids are “mine”, I got an equal say and marginalizing the mother that ticks people off.
Let the parents be the parents, support your husband and work out the rules for your house with him, support your husband as a parent but let the father co-parent with the mother.

I don’t understand why stepmoms always throw out the “well would it be better if I hated the kids?!” response when their overstepping of boundaries is challenged.
There’s a middle ground. It’s not just “pretend their mother doesn’t exist and marginalize her” versus “hate the kids and treat them as outsiders in their father’s home.”

All I can say is from my own personal experience, I get hell from their mom no matter what I do. Nothing is ever right. I think it comes down to the fact that she hates I have a relationship with her children. Which I can completely understand. Its very hard as a stepmom to remember at all times they are not your children. Especially when you have them most of the time and their mom has made a lot of really bad choices the past few years regarding their safety and well being. I want to protect them, just like a mother should. If I treat them as my own, I’m over stepping my boundaries. If I keep them somewhat distant and treat them as though they are just children hanging out in my home..I’m a bad person too. Its a very fine line to walk, and the good stepmoms I know have never tried to cut mom out or take her place. Hope that makes some kind of sense.

I get that, I do. And that’s your particular situation.
I believe there are bad moms out there for sure, be it moms or stepmoms. Everything I see coming from stepmom blogs, twitter accounts and magazines is this constant competitive language. It’s not helpful to their cause. Demeaning by adding bio- when not necessary, being judgmental of parenting styles, always talking about how they’re the bigger heart with the hardest job, stereotyping all moms as being too emotional, too insecure, too jealous, too this and that while painting every stepmom as being perfect, which is complete bullcrap as well. It’s demeaning, competitive and unhealthy, IMO. That’s just my feeling overall about the stepmom vs mom drama that plays out. Every situation is different. The stepmom “side” in the media, blogs, whatever all paint it as mom = bad, stepmom = best ever. That’s not real life.

I didn’t watch the whole video in that article, but they are claiming that Kelly said, when pursuing a guy, “girlfriends are speed bumps and wives are stop signs, but I don’t live by that.” Wtf?! How about stop being pathetic and desperate and find your own man…especially when there are children involved. If she really did say that, my whole opinion of her just changed. Sad, because I thought she seemed like such a nice person.

Watch out, the folks over at the Kelly Clarkson Express will have your head for this article. They’re cray-cray.

I will always love Kelly’s music, it’s gotten me through some really awful (and I mean AWFUL) times, but I’m really starting to dislike her as a person. I also know someone who is friends with one of her bandmates, and some of the things I hear are just…wow. For example, how they freely give away Meet & Greets to members from the KCE, when the fans who DON’T kiss Kelly & her bandmates asses have to WORK HARD and SPEND THEIR HARDEARNED MONEY to get Meet & Greets. That just blows my mind.

I’m the odd duck. I don’t think what she said was offensive. I would much rather my kids Step Mom love them, and see them as part of her family. She does not.

My girls are older but they love their Step Dad. They do not call him Dad but they are his kids too. He provides for them, cares for them when they are sick, would move mountains for them etc. He is a parent to them. They know he isn’t their Dad and he isn’t trying to take their Dad’s place. My girls for loved and welcomed here. I would give anything for them to have the same at their Dad’s.

Can you talk to my fiancee’s ex and explain that to her?? She has so much hatred towards me and its so frustrating because all I’ve ever done is love the kids and treat them like I would treat my own if I had any. I’ve always made it very clear that I am not trying to, and will never take Mom’s place. I have my own special relationship with them and don’t feel the need to be called mom.

I’m in the same boat with you ladies and am brand spankin’ new at it :-/ SuperStef, if you wouldn’t mind, I will add you as well. Stephanie, let me know too! I will fully admit, my twitter has absolutely nothing on it haha. It’s one social outlet that I’ve been a complete fail at. My name is ChrissyQct. I think we need to get a stepmom group together!

I’m a Stepmom and I dont think she overstepped at all. She simply stated that she has accepted her man’s kids like her own and she cares for them when they are with her. She didn’t bad-mouth the mother, we just didn’t see her mention the mother here at all.

I agree with many of the Stepmoms on this site in that I don’t call myself “mom” or “bonus mom”, yet the kids call me “Stepmom” when its convenient and even “Stephmom” when it’s funny. Although I care for them with their dad 98% of the time, and their mom has them 2% (and doesn’t contribute anything financially, thats all their dad and I), I don’t marginalize her role – I just often don’t talk about her. She made her own choices and she will always be their only real mother – I respect that even if I don’t respect her choices. I refer to them as “The Kids” or “My Girl and My Boy”. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

I do think LeeAnne Rimes has given all Stepmoms a bad name, but we aren’t all like her. Stop the quick judgement and harsh criticism for Stepmoms – we take on the huge role of loving someone else’s children and caring for them like our own. We constantly have to walk on eggshells so we don’t offend anyone’s sensitive ego and yet our own needs are often not recognized. We may make mistakes, but we keep learning and trying to be the best role models for our man’s kids. To me, that’s a very beatiful and selfless thing that should be celebrated, not judged and harshed on every damn day.

You sound like a great mom, step or not! My husband has a wonderful relationship with his stepmom, who has always been loving and stable, much more so than his “real” mom. His bio mom passed before we met and our children have always known his stepmother as “grandma” and she has treated them no differently than her bio grandkids. She refers to my husband and his sister as her children and they in turn always refer to her daughter as their sister, never stepsister. I can’t even imagine how hard it is to be a loving stepmother, especially with an unstable bio mom. My hat goes off to all of you.

Very well said! We have more in common then just our first name. I hate that we get this “EVIL STEPMOTHER” title no matter what we do. I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. Nice to know theres others feeling the same way I do! Keep doing what your doing!!

It is a very hard role to play and I often feel the “Damned if I do, Damned if I Don’t” frustration that comes with it. I can also appreciate how tough it can be for the real mom to see her kids develop a relationship with another woman, like she has been replaced. In my case, their mom chose to leave and live with her new BF who has teenage kids of his own. She sees her kids maybe 1x a month, if it’s convenient for her. As a result, I’m the one helping these 2 angry teens everyday as they grow up and adjust to life.

One thing that really helped was reading – there are a lot of good books out there on step-parenting. The very best one is “Stepmonster” by Wednesday Martin, PHD. She goes into the pysche of being a stepmom and uncovers a lot of the raw emotion we all feel. It helped me to understand my feelings were normal and I should become aware of them without fear. I also enjoyed “My Not So Fabulous Transition to Instant Mom” by Lizzie (can’t remember her last name but she started a website called “Stepmothers Milk”). I also took a lot from “Get Out of My Life But First Can You Drive Me and My Friend to the Mall” by Anthony Wolf. It really explains the psyche of the modern teenager and how better manage them, and yourself as a parental figure.

You do sound like you’re doing a great job. My view is that of mom (of two) and stepmom (of one). Nothing is black and white, but in most cases it is not okay to suddenly think she is mom to two kids, she’s not-they have a mom. She is the stepparent helping, and yes, that entails correcting when wrong in her home, etc. But coming from both sides of this issue, stepmom’s need to respect, in most cases, that there is a mom and no matter what a stepparent is not more important than the kids’ mom or dad.

Oh Jesus, sounds like we have another LeAnn Rimes in the making. Tread lightly Kelly, you could see your career go down the tubes just as easy. YOU do not have a 12 year old and a 6 year old. Their parents do. You are just the new wife.

My stepmother is as much my mother as my bio mum, same goes for my stepfather. Honestly I can’t imagine it any other way. I’m divorced with kids, and as of yet neither my ex or I have gotten serious with anyone, but when we do I hope it will be with people the kids (eventually) see as parents. More love and support is never a bad thing.

My bio mum was very weird about my stepmother for a few years, which was hard for me and my siblings to deal with. Expecting young kids to live with someone 50% of the time and be cared for by them while not becoming attached to them, at best is silly and at worst creates cruelness and bitterness. She did eventually get that when she met my stepfather and we’re all one big family now, but her jealousy made those early years very confusing and upsetting. Some people need a reminder that the most important thing is their kids wellbeing and happiness, not their status in their kids lives.

I agree, the mom shouldn’t make the kids feel guilty. But why do you say bio mom in your post? That’s so strange. Why not, my stepmother is as much a mother to me as my mom. We know who you’re talking about. If my child ever refers to me as her bio mom, just ugh.

Because I’ve called both mom since I was 6 years old, I never call my step-mom ‘step’ with people who know me and only used it here to avoid confusion, and as I said as far as I’m concerned they are both equally my mothers. I have two moms the only difference being one is biologically related to me and one isn’t.